Electrical grade-crossing signal



F. A. WRIGHT AND W. J. BRONG.

ELECTRICAL GRADE caossms SIGNAL.

APPLl CATl0N FILED JUNE I. 19!].

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

V 3 5141mm 6w witness Y 7/:

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINOTUN. I). c.

F. A. WRIGHT AND W. J. BRONG.

. ELECTRICAL GRADE CROSSING SIGNAL.

I I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 19m. 1 3 1 3 ,445 Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l I 22 r I 23 f Z A? 4 5/ y A m 37/ 6 30 m 44 '&i\\ k/ avmmwtow JM. Wig/2Z wmm I m V v F. A. WRIGHT AND W. J. BRONG.

ELECTRICAL GRADE CROSSING SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l. 191]. 1,313,445. PatentedAug. 19,1919.

3 SHEETS SHEET 3.

' llllllllllllllllllll "lllllllllllllillllli UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. WRIGHT AND WALLIE J. BEoNe, OLEDIGKSON CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL [GRADE-CROSSING SIGNAL.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, FREDERICK A. WRIGHT and lVALLIE J. BRONG, citizens of theUnited States, residing'at Dickson City, in the county of Lackawanna, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Electrical Grade-Crossing Signal, of which the following is a specification.=

The present invention appertains to signals and semaphores, and aims to provide anovel and improved signal adapted especially for use at grade crossings, although useful for various other purposes.

It is the ob ect of the invention' to provide a signal of novel'and'improved'construction for signaling to traflic, whereby to avoid accidents, and having improvedoperating means associated with the signal member.

' With the? foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be-made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein r Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved signal.

Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof on the line 2 20f Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line agable roof 2, the edge portions of which are bent to provide eaves 3 for catching the rain water and discharging the same from the ends thereof. As shown, the roof'is of sheet metal, and the walls of the casing are of wood, although any suitable materials can be used. 'l5he -sidewalls-ofthe casing Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug-19', 1919'.

Application filed J'une 1, 1917. senrm); 172,279.

are provided with windows {L to expose the signal member 5 which is operable within the casing. This signal member is in the form of hollow light-containing drum-provided with paneled sides, and is rotatable about ailongitudinal axis; The signal member comprises the end disks 6 connected by four strips? adjacent to the margins ofsaid disks, and opposite panels 8- and 9 have their edges secured to said'strips, which are preferably provided with rabbets 10- for-"receivwith a bearing 11- rotatable upon a tubular member 12 extending through one" endoff the casingand carried by a bearing 13 secured to said end of the casing. The other end disk 6 of the signal member has abearing' 14 rotatable upon a spindle 15 secured to a bearing16 fastened tothe other end of the casing; The signal member can thus be rotated or turned-to bring either thepanels 8 or the panels 9 behind the windows, to indicate when the traffic shouldstop or proceed.

A source of light is mounted within" the signal member toilluminatethe panel's thereof, and for this purpose hangers 17' are pivotally engaged at their upper ends'with the tubular member 12 and bearing 14;, and have attached to their lower ends abar or beam 18 carrying one or more lamp sockets 1 9 to which electric lamps 20 are applied in an upstanding position. ,The conductors 21 of the lamps are extendedthrough the tubular member or spindle 121 The hangers" 17 with the bar 18 provide a U-shap'edtmemher suspended loosely withinthe signalmemher to remain in pendent position while the signal member rotates. The tubular spindle 12 serves to lead the conductors through the end wall of the casing from the exterior and also to the end wallof the signal member.

One end of the casing has an open'ing 22 above the tubular'spindle 12, across which a lens or bulls eye23 is mounted, the passage of the light rays through the openin s '22 beingprevented when the .go pane s 9 are moved behind the Windows 4. The

- corresponding are disk 6-oftlle signal inan ber, however, is provided with an opening 24 which registers wlth the opening 22 when the signal member is turnedtob ring the stop panels 8 behind the windows, whereb y the light rays can pass through the openings 22 and 24 and lens 23 to provide a signal, when the signal member is in danger position. This lens 23 and pair of openings can be provided at either end of the casing. The disks 6 are opaque to prevent the passage of-light through the lens 23, excepting when the opening 24 registers with the opening22.

' As a means'for operating the signal member, thebearing 14 is provided with 'a pinion 25 at the outer side of the respective "end of the signal member,and a lever 26 is fulcrumed or pivoted, as at 27, c tothe corresponding end 'of the casing at the inner side thereof,and is provided-at one end with an arcuate rack 28 meshing-with the pinion 25, whereby the oscillatory movement of the lever 26 will rotate the pinion 25 and signal member to which ity is fastened. The lever 26 is disposed between the end of the signal member and casing and is operated by electromagnet 29 disposed on the bottom of the casing un'derneaththe signal mem ber. An armature 30 under the influence of the magnet is hung pivotally, as at 31, and is provided with anarm or lever 32 overhanging the magnet and connected by a link 33 with that arm. of the lever 26 opposite "to the rack 28. A spring 34 connected with the lever and easing, returns theoperating mechanism to normal position when the electromagnet is deenergized, the rack 28 being raised, whereby t turn the signal member to one position. When the magnet is energized, it will attract the armature 30, and raise the arm 32, whereby to raise the link 33 and corresponding arm of the lever 26. The rack 28 will, therefore, be moved downi; -wardly, to turn the pinion 25 and signal member to bring the other pair of panels behind the windows 4. The signal member is thus controlled by the electromagnet 29 whichcan be energized and deenergized by the closing and opening of an electrical circuit 35 having a switch 36 or other suitable means controlling it.

A bell 37 or other electrical audible signal is preferably used, to call attention to the signal when in danger position. This bell or alarm is mounted within the casing, and is disposed in a circuit 38. In order to close the circuit 38 when the signal member is turned to danger position, a block 39 of insulating material is attached to one end of the casing and carries a pair of diverging leaf spring contacts 40 to which two conductors of the circuit 38 are connected. A contact 41, preferably in the form of a copiel this patent; may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the. Commissioner or Patents,

roller, is carried by a pin 42, which is in turn carried by the corresponding end disk 6 of the signal member, and this roller 41 moves snugly between the contacts 40 when thesignal member is turned to danger position, thereby closing the circuit of bell37. A buffer 43 is carried by the corresponding end wall of the-.casing in the path of movement of the roller 41, whereby to cushion and stop the movement of the signal member when the armature 30 is released from the magnet 29.

One end of the casing is provided with binding posts 44 on the outside thereof for the connection of the conductors.

o enin 24 of the si nalmember registers P s g with the opening 22 for the passage of light through the lens 23. As soon as the magnet 29 is deenergized, the parts will return to vnormal safety position. In the night time, the circuit of the lamps 20 can be closed, whereby the panels will be illuminated. This is unnecessary, however, durin the day time.

aving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A signal embodying a casing having a window at one side and an opening at one end, a drum-shaped signal member mounted for rotation within the casing behind said window and having an opening at one end normallyout ofregister with the opening openlng in the caslng, and a source of light within the signal member. c

2. A signal embodying a casing having a window at one side and an openmg at one end,-a source of light within the casing, a signal member withinthe casing and movable behind the window, and normally clos- 'ing the opening to the projection of rays of light therethrough, and means for moving the signal member to display a signal through the window and uncoverthe opening to emit rays of lights.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signa tures in the presence of. two witnesses.

FREDERICK A. WRIGHT.

WALLIE J BRONG.

- Witnesses:

' FRANK M. ELMER, TOM HANNIOK.

Washington, D. c." 

